Windshield cleaner



May 18 1926. H. G. SPARKS WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed March 4, 1922 Patented Mayld, W26.

HARRY SPARKS, OF JAGKSQN, 'MICHIGAN'.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

Application filed. March 4, 1822. Serial No. 541,051.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful Windshield cleaner.

The object of the invention is tQ provide an efiicient and automatic device for maintaining a portion of the windshield or similar structure clear of rain, snow, or other vision-obstructing material.

Other objects and advantages relate to,

the details of construction of the device, all as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which 1-- Figure 1 is an elevation of the device applied to a windshield.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device separate from the windshield illustrating diagrammatically an operable form of electrical connection. 7

Figure 3 is a sectional view through one of the solenoids.

The invention, as shown, compr ses a pair oi? solenoids, l' and -2-, which may be of any suitable and well known frm, altho the formshown may perhaps-be deemed tor the purpose of this invention at present preierred. As shown, each solenoid comprises an outer metallic tube -3 closed at one end by a cast iron cap or plug 4- provided with an air outlet or opening'-5 controlled by a valve 6 which may, as shown have a threaded relation with the cap -4..

Within the cylinder -3- is arranged an arn'iature in the form of a second tube or cylinder 7- of somewhat less diameter than the cylinder -3- and slidable therein, and the cylinder 7, may, as shown, be surrounded with a ring-like member -8 which forms a substantially air-tight joint between the cylinders so that when the interior cylinder 7 is moved endwise the air pressure in the cylinder -3, (altho the air is capable of escaping slowly thru the outlet opening constitutes an air cushion which prevents any shock to the device.

The solenoid wiring 9 may, as shown, surround ,the outer tube 3, or may be arranged in any suitable manner for energizing the device. The cylinders -7 of the two solenoids may, as shown, be connected by a piston rod or bar 10- formed nearv its central point with a pin or other connection -11- for engagement with one end of a wiper lever --12-- pivoted at 18 and carrying on its opposite end a wiping member 14. The wiper lever l--- may, as shown, be formed with a vertically elongated slot .-15- in. which the pin -11 moves as the piston rod -10 is shifted endwise in opposite directions and alternately by the solenoids. The pivot -'-13 may be formed upon any stationary part and preferably is mounted upon a ll-shaped member -16 which is deflected downwardly at its central portion, while its opposite end is secured to the solenoid cylinders --3-' so as to constitute the device a substantially unitary structure.

. lhe wiping member --14.- moves about the pivot -13- as a fulcrum to wipe the adjacent portions of the windshield, as the piston rod 10- is shifted endwise in opposite directions. The energizing of the solenoids alternately may be effected in any suitable way and by any suitable electrical connection, many of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and purely as illustrative of one construction, satisfactory and capable of use, the piston rod -10- as shown, is

formed with two pins or knobs 2 6- and --17- which in their endwise movement contact with a switch member '18- which may be a spring held in both of its operative positions, and these knobs serve to alternately move the switch l8 into contact with the terminal 19-' and the terminal -20 dependent upon the direction of movement and the position of rod 10 so that when one solenoid has been energized and moved, the piston rod endwise in its direction, the current to that solenoid will be cut off by movement of the switch member and the other solenoid will be energized by current, flowing in its circuit which is closed by movement of switch -18, to thereby effect endwise movement of the piston rod --10 in the opposite direction and thereby alternately shifting the wiping lever 12 in opposite directions about its pivotal axis l3 to move the wiping member -14- across the adjacent portion of the windshield and thereby remove foreign matter from the shield;

Thesolenoids -l and -2- may be connected. to the framing of the windshield or other part, in any suitable manner for operative relation of wiping member 14. with the desired portions of the shield.

Altho I have shown and described a specitic construction as illustrative of an embodiment of my invention, 1 do not desire to iimitmysclf co-the sam as vvarious changes .the .mot01's.and th Cleaner arm for nitcr- 0 in form and arrangement, and in ihe details :natdiy movingsaid'clczi ner mm in Opposite of construction of the device may be made directions about its pivot, and means 01 without depart-in; from the invention as alternately energizing said motors in accordset forth in the appended claim. mice with theimmtement of the cleaner arm.

I claim: In witness whereof I have hereunto set 15 A windshield cleaner com-prising -twomqy handlthis 21st day of February 1922. spaced motors, a cleaner arm pivoted between the motors and connections between HARRY G. SPARKS. 

